Let me first welcome you to my first blog posting, and my blog site. This blog site is specifically geared towards those who have an inclination about the Philippines and everything related to its people.

Many things have been said about the Philippines, either positively or negatively. They may be true or not. But one thing is certain, and I speak freely on my own will, I am proud to be a Filipino residing in the Philippines.

Modesty aside, I have been to other places in Europe, North America and Asia. Although these places are superb and very modern (or still exudes the Medieval aura in the case of Europe), the tropical setting of the Philippines is perfect for me. The Philippines may not have the urbanism of San Francisco, but it has that simplicity and peace that most urbanites prefer. It may not have the high-rise building of Hong Kong, but it has in its place, untouched trees and high-rise coconuts giving shade to its people. It may not have the snow caps of the Alps in Switzerland, but it has long stretches of white and powdery beaches that can only be found here. It may not have the chocolate factories of France, but no place on earth has the famed Chocolate Hills. It may not have the cool and canny of Tokyo, but it has the best dive sites in this part of the world. My point here is simple, the Philippines may not have the grandeur and beauty of other places due to man-made sights and sounds, but it definitely has some of the wonder and exoticism of nature. And, if only because of these that I prefer to live in this archipelago called the Pearl of the Orient Seas.

Pinoys (the Filipino people) are always very warm, hospitable, caring and God-fearing. Hardworking, diligent and honest are some of the traits that set apart Filipino workers to those of other nationalities. But sadly, the Philippines is also reputed to be among the most corrupt—especially those in the government. Pinoys are carefree and satisfied with what they have right now. Especially in the rural areas, the people are contented with their lives. It is normal to see a group of women talking about anything for the whole afternoon and not doing anything else. It is also normal to see a group of men having a drinking spree as early as mid-morning up until the early evenings. Valuing time is not a priority for these individuals. They have all the time in the world to indulge in these pastimes, and they only care if they can eat three times today! In urban areas, the observation above may only be partly true as norms and traditions are slowly changing.

Pinoys will always have the penchant for leisure and recreation together with friends and family. Stress may not be in the vocabulary of Pinoys as they usually are very laid-back. Sundays will always be a family day. Normally, this is the time when everyone goes to the beach, the mall to watch movie or to go outdoors for an outing. Pinoys are also very sociable by nature. A friend is always there anytime to lend a hand in times of happiness or sorrow. You always have a friend in a Filipino guy or gal!

This is just a beginning of our journey into the deep realm of the Pinoy psyche and the Philippines. I will be sharing more experiences and observations in my succeeding postings. I hope you will also have the time to share your experiences and observations. Let us make this a discussion board for all our passions and indifferences about the Philippines and its people. By doing so, it is my hope that we may be able to help make a better Philippines and uplift the Filipino spirit along the way.

As Pinoys and the Philippines are diverse, I also intend to write various topics about them ranging from the highly intellectual like business and economics, to the highly technical and abstract like technology, to the highly controversial like politics and entertainment, to the very personal like my experiences and family issues. One thing is sure though in all my postings, and hopefully in all your contributions later on: that everything to be discussed will mirror and spotlight the Philippines and the Filipino people.

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